The Mexicans had the by far toughest schedule to start the World Cup of Baseball. They lost all the first three games against Panama, the USA and Japan. On Sunday they won their second straight game and could be still in the race for a place in the quarterfinals with two games left against Italy and Spain. They defeated Chinese Taipei 9-5, who had not lost in the tournament yet.
Mexico took the lead in the fourth period with two runs, but gave it back right away, when four runners by Taiwan reached home in the bottom of the fifth. However, the Central American offense had a very good day. They scored four runs on their own in the sixth to regain the advantage and added three more till the end. Chinese Taipei tried to rally in the bottom of the ninth, but the deficit was too big.
Sergio CONTRERAS (2-4) and Baltazar LOPEZ ACEDO (2 RBI) hit homeruns. Hector GARANZUAY RODRIGUEZ had three hits in five at-bats with one RBI. Fernando ALEJOS SANCHEZ (2-4) drove in two.
Chia-Hsian HSIEH and Kuo-Hui LO went back-to-back with solo-shots for Chinese Taipei.
Hector Daniel RODRIGUEZ MELGAR started for Mexico. He gave up three hits, two earned runs and one walk in four-plus innings. Jose COBOS CARRILLO struck out four in three innings of relief for the win.
Ming-Cheh HSU was charged with five hits, four runs and a base on balls in five-plus innings. Fu-Te NI took the loss.
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